“patriots Day” Movie Review: Untangling The Messy Threads Of A Tragic Day

Divining a coherent movie in the chaos of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing presents a clear challenge to any filmmaker. It’s hard enough to follow a cast of dozens, or find the right tone amid complicated expressions of anger and patriotism. But with the psychic wounds from the attack still healing — even as we cringe at each new shooting or bombing in public spaces — it’s a genuine artistic risk. Against these odds, director Peter Berg (“Deepwater Horizon”) manages to pull off a riveting narrative in “Patriots Day,” despite proud Boston native Mark Wahlberg’s perfunctory lead performance, and the now-questionable portrayal of Katherine Russell, the wife of bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, by Colorado native Melisa Benoist (“Supergirl”).